Hundred million years of landscape dynamics from catchment to global scale

Abstract

Our capability to reconstruct past landscapes and the processes that shape them underpins our understanding of paleo-Earth. We take advantage of a global-scale landscape evolution model assimilating paleoelevation and paleoclimate reconstructions over the past 100 million years. This model provides continuous quantifications of metrics critical to the understanding of the Earth system, from global physiography to sediment flux and stratigraphic architectures. We reappraise the role played by surface processes in controlling sediment delivery to the oceans and find stable sedimentation rates throughout the Cenozoic with distinct phases of sediment transfer from terrestrial to marine basins. Our simulation provides a tool for identifying inconsistencies in previous interpretations of the geological record as preserved in sedimentary strata, and in available paleoelevation and paleoclimatic reconstructions.

The new global tectonic map—Analyses and implications

“…Currently different authors place emphasis on and have expressed preference for various combinations of these forces often using the deformations observed in time and space as major supporting evidence. The hereby observed symmetrical and asymmetrical tectonic patterns play a major role to constrain paleogeographic mapping based on plate tectonic reconstructions (see e.g., Müller et al, 2019; Merdith et al, 2021; Salles et al, 2023; Scotese & van der Pluijm, 2020; van Hinsbergen et al, 2011, 2020; and the references in Table 1) and contribute to the fascinating ongoing discussion of the evolution of the planet Earth.…”

“…This image illustrates the well-known relative westward shift of the lithosphere (at least in this sector; see Torsvik et al, 2010 for a discussion) with steep dipping subduction zones in the West and moderately dipping ones in the East (e.g., Bostrom, 1973;Moore, 1973). Müller et al, 2019;Merdith et al, 2021;Salles et al, 2023;Scotese & van der Pluijm, 2020;van Hinsbergen et al, 2011van Hinsbergen et al, , 2020 and the references in Table 1) and contribute to the fascinating ongoing discussion of the evolution of the planet Earth.…”

Physiography, foraging mobility, and the first peopling of Sahul

“…To reconstruct the migration of people across Sahul during the Late Pleistocene, we start by characterising the physical environment of the region and its main geomorphic features from 75 and 35 ka. To do so, we use the landscape evolution model goSPL 28 that simulates the joint effects of erosion, sediment transport, and deposition on the relief and drainage network with an adequate resolution (~1 km) to capture geomorphic heterogeneity (Methods). Owing to the relatively modest impact of geodynamics 29 (~5 m of estimated subsidence in Sahul over the considered period), we assume that the physiography of Sahul is solely controlled by rainfalls and sea level variations.…”

High rates of rock organic carbon oxidation sustained as Andean sediment transits the Amazon foreland-floodplain

“…While future work will need to establish how temperature and O 2 -supply impact OC petro oxidation rates in floodplains ( 7 , 21 ), our results suggest that the formation of floodplain adjacent to a mountain range allows more complete OC petro oxidation during sediment transit. Over multimillion year timescales, the growth and waning of riverine floodplains and continental sediment storage ( 27 ) could thus act as a powerful carbon cycle modifier throughout Earth’s history.…”

“…Hence, mountain catchments which are underlain by sedimentary rocks with river floodplains could have greater net CO 2 release from OW than mountain catchments without floodplains. Over 10 5 to 10 6 y timescales, the configuration of continental drainages can shift dramatically ( 27 ) and young, high standing mountain ranges potentially operate differently in terms of OW and CO 2 release relative to mountain ranges with floodplain drapes.…”